The Conditional Effects of Parental Internet Supervision on Online Victimization for Early Adolescent Boys

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cyberbullying victimization is a key risk factor facing contemporary young men. Parental internet supervision is thought to be effective in mitigating these risks in mixed-gender samples, but the efficacy of internet supervision for young men specifically is unclear. This study examined the effects of internet supervision upon cybervictimisation among adolescent boys in an all-boys school (Mage = 13.44), moderated by internet use and availability of internet-enabled devices in the home. Both active and restrictive forms of supervision were conditionally related to increased cybervictimisation, suggesting that the efficacy of internet supervision may be highly sensitive to contextual factors.